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60 °F Forecast | Road Cams Tuesday, August 3, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Prime Times Wellness Connection Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Rogue Valley's Finest EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People MARKETPLACE Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Classifieds Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend July 9, 2004 Young Jenks struts stuff at S.O. Speedway By DON HUNT Mail Tribune Dustin Jenks was in Medford Thursday racing a go-kart at the slick car track. Tonight, he’ll make his debut in his new 500 cubic centimeter go-kart at the Southern Oregon Speedway, and Saturday he’ll climb into his modified car and race at the Cottage Grove Speedway. Give the 21-year-old from Chico, Calif., a vehicle with four wheels and a motor, and he’ll be glad to race it. "Racing’s in my blood and I’ll take seat time anytime I can get it," Jenks says. Advertisement Jenks wowed the crowd at the speedway last Saturday when he drove his modified car to victory in the Firecracker 50, dominating a race that local drivers were expected to rule. Jenks hasn’t raced enough at White City to contend for a points title, but he’s quickly blossoming into one of the top young drivers at the local track. He also prefers it to his home oval in Chico, where sprint cars get preferential treatment. "The modified cars are the main show here and I really like the drivers, the fans and the race officials," Jenks says. "The top 15 drivers are capable of winning on any given week and that makes it more fun to race. "When you win here, you know you’ve earned it." Jenks began racing go-karts at the age of 9 and his father put him in a stock car at 16. He took rookie-of-the-year honors in the pure stock class at Chico in 1998 before stepping into a modified car the following year. He has 25 main event victories to his credit. As talented as he is behind the wheel, Jenks never worked on his car until this season. "My dad starting calling me "Hollywood," because all I did was drive the car and get the glory," Jenks says. "I never even changed the oil until this year." Jenks had moved to Lake Tahoe, Nevada but moved back to Chico this year so he could be near his father’s shop, where he’s now turning wrenches and gaining an appreciation for what it takes to get his Harris chassis ready to race. "I still don’t do as much as some of the other guys on our crew but at least now I’m getting my hands dirty," he says. "And I think that’s helped me as a driver." Jenks also raced motocross for two years but gave up that sport in 2001 after getting into a bad spill and breaking his foot. "The bike landed on me and crushed my foot," Jenks says. "I was also racing cars that year and had five main event wins when I wrecked the bike. Racing cars is a lot more important to me and so I gave up the bike." But not his go-kart. He did most of the work on the new one he’ll take to the speedway tonight. "This is the first thing I’ve ever really done on my own," he says. "I can’t wait to race it." THE NORTHERN SPRINT Tour returns to the Southern Oregon Speedway on Monday. The race between the fastest sprint cars in Oregon and Washington kicks off Northwest Speedweek, a gear-head extravaganza that will find the drivers competing in five races in five days at four separate tracks, culminating with a two-day show at Elma, Wash., on Friday and Saturday. The drivers will race at Cottage Grove Tuesday and Lebanon Thursday. Central Point’s Bill Nutter ranks fourth in the NST point standings and Gold Hill’s T.J. Winningham is fifth. Nutter is enjoying one of his finest seasons since launching his career in 1985. He’s posted five victories, including an NST win on June 4, and two seconds. Nutter also finished fifth at the Golden State Challenge in White City on June 15. SCOTT LENZ CONTINUED his successful season in California last weekend when he won back-to-back modified races in Yreka, including Sunday’s $1,000-to-win feature event. The Shady Cove chiropractor captured a clean sweep Friday, winning his heat race, the trophy dash and the main event. He now has nine victories this summer and continues to lead the California United Midwestern Promoters (UMP) standings. Lenz ranks 16th nationally in the UMP points race. Reach reporter Don Hunt at 776-4469, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times